-
The Shot Heard Around the World
Brititsh intelligence gathered information that showed patriot leaders and a large stockpile of weapons were going to be in Concord, just outsside Boston. Despite British secrecy, Americans learned of British intentions and had evacuated all of the weapons and leader before the British arrived, and throwing up a ragtag militia to fight them at Lexington, which ended in retreat, and later Concord, where American militia fired on British troops all the way back to Boston. -
2nd Continental Congress Meets
Delegates from the Thirteen colonies meet to create a Continental Army, send the Olive Branch Petition as a last attempt at peace, and would managae the war effort and assume governmental functions for the duration of the war. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British troops, under the command of Howe assault patriot positions outside of Boston as an attepmt to capture Boston. The British eventually suceeded in taking the hills, but took significant casualties and demostrated that rebel troops could stand toe to toe with the British military. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine publishes his blunt, yet philosophical pamphlet, which urges his fellow Americans to join the cause in the American Revolution. -
Declaration of Independence
Continental Congress following several debates and revisions, declares indpendence from Britain. -
Battle of Long Island
British troops under command of Howe defeat the Continental Army in a three-pronged attack, but fail to capture or eliminate most of it, and Washington and his troops escape. The British capture New York. -
Battles of Trenton and Princeton
Washington crosses the Delaware River on Christmas night, and attack the ill-prepared Hessians nand British at Trenton, New Jersey, and is victorious again at Princeton a week later. -
Battles of Saratoga
General Burgoyne is checked by American forces under Gates at Freeman's farm after Howe decides to occupy Philidelphia instead of assisting him. Defeated again on October 7, and finally surrenders on October 17. -
Valley Forge
Washington retires his army to Valley Forge for the winter. The lack of food, and intense cold would kill a large portion of the Continental army, while desertion accounted for another blow to their numbers. With the help of Baron von Steuben, however, the remaining soldiers are better trained and disciplined than when they went in. -
French Alliance
Following American military successes, especially at Saratoga, King Louis XVI signs an official alliance with the Congress under Lafayette's request. The French would aid the Thirteen Colonies with supplies, soldiers, and a powerful navy. -
Sir Henry Clinton
Sir Henry Clinton replaces a war weary, and defeated General Howe as the commander of all British forces in America. He launches his Southern Campaign in an attempt to isolate and capture the southern colonies, which would deplete the remaining colonies of money and food. -
Spanish declaration of War
Spain declares war on the UK at France's urging to take Gibraltar and Florida, but they refuse to recognize the US government as legitimate. They do, however, engage in joint naval operations against the British fleet and de facto assist the Americans. -
British Capture of Charleston
The British launch a succesful offensive against Charleston from their position at Savannah, and succesfully capture and hold Charleston for the duration of the war. -
Battle of King's Mountain
a 65 minute battle has American troops led by Isaac Shelby and Jogn Seveir defeat one third of General Cornwallis's army. A week later, Nathaniel Green was named commander of Southern Army. -
Articles of Confederation
THe Continental Congress created a set of loose confederacy among the new colonies as a basis of a national government for the newly independent colonies. -
Yorktown
General Cornwallis surrenders to French and American forces at Yorktown, Virginia, after being completely surrounded, and heavily outnumbered. The battle marked the end of most fighting in the American Revolution, and the nail in the coffin for British public opinion. -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Two years after Yorktown, the British finally surrender to The new United States of America, and recognize her on good terms for the U.S. Largely obstructed by Spanish and French factions, the treaty gave them very little, only Florida for Spain, and tobago for France. -
The Constitution
A constitution, proposed by Federalists concerned with squabbling and infighting among the states, and balloonins national debt, created a larger and more powerful national government. -
Bill of Rights
Proposed by Anti-federalists as the first ten ammendments to the Constitution as a way to protect state and individual rights in face of the larger national government. Once accepted, most participants were ready to ratify the constitution. -
Ratification
Rhode Island became the final state to ratify the new constitution on threat of being treated like a foreign country. Initial resistance of the Constitution in larger states, such as New York and Pennsylvania postponed its adoption for many years, and spurred the creation of the Bill of Rights.
